RP:Bones and Barbs

Eastern Frostmaw Gates

Laezila was not in very good shape. Presumably in the healer's tent, the young drow was sprawled out upon one of the medical tents' cots. Her limbs were still a mixture of snapped and bent at unnatural and horrific angles. Her rib stuck up out of her front, the bone sharp and her skin and sinew wrapped around it. Her left arm was the same, with splinters of the bone exposed through her muscle and flesh. Her vivid blue eyes were open, staring up at the tent top.

Pilar was getting ready to go to Kelay to meet with Emilia, for the Healer's Guild. Someone had apparently spoken highly of her skills. She wanted to meet with the nurse who'd been teaching her, Eileen, just to go over a few things. That was forgotten the moment she stepped into the healer's tent and laid eyes on Laezila's form. She covered her mouth to muffle the shriek of horror and rushed to her side. "L-Laezila! Oh, gods, Laezila!" She wasn't even sure if the drow was alive.

Laezila was alive. Barely. It was made evident by the twist of her eyes toward the shriek of Pilar, and the relative agony in them. The anasthetic was a strong painkiller but this was a high level of suffering. "Pilar," she rasped.

Pilar's shaking hand settled on Laezila's head. She ran her fingers through the dyed ebon locks, murmuring, "Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods..." Eileen happened to be passing by and Pilar asked, "What happened to her?" Eileen looked on with sympathy. "Beaten by a giant and chucked off a cliff, from what I hear." There was a sharp intake of breath, and she looked back at Laezila. "Oh gods..."

Laezila 's vivid stare, bright blue and alert despite her lucidity and the suffering she was subject to, traveled over Pilar's features of sympathy and worry. It was heart-breaking, to see one of her only friends so torn up emotionally. A small, forced smile came, "I tried." She offered, it was the best she could do. The comfort of those fingers in her hair, on her head; Laezila released a slow soft breath. "Am I going to die?"

Pilar looked up at Eileen, silently praying for a good answer. The woman shook her head. "Well... if you weren't a vampire, you'd definitely be dead, so the fact that you're still talking is a good sign... We're gonna have a lot of work to do to put you back together, though." Pilar turned her chocolate eyes back to Laeila. "You'll be okay." Her thoughts went to her upcoming meeting. She didn't want to leave Laezila's side, and if it wasn't for the fact that she was meeting a representative from the Healer's Guild, she might have called it off entirely. But perhaps she could get someone to come up here to help.

Laezila had no idea about any trip that Pilar had planned, so it wasn't particularly selfish in intention when her hand loosely, and clumsily tried to grasp at Pilar without moving her arm too much. "Will you stay with me?" It was an eager rasp. The inhale of breath on intake caused her skin and muscle to slide upward along the protruding rib.

Pilar took Laezila's hand. "I... I need to send a message to someone... but yes, I will stay with you." She didn't know if Emilia could help, but she needed to let her know she couldn't make it all the way to Kelay for their meeting. Whether Emilia came to them or not, didn't matter. She stood up. "I will be back shortly. Can I bring you anything?"

Laezila hadn't the faintest idea that she was keeping Pilar from anything, let alone that it was an important meeting or anything of the like. Her grip on the hand of the other woman relaxed lightly, but still she couldn't move much. Hardly speak. Her eyes stared at Pilar, took in the woman's features like she were committing them to memory; people like Pilar didn't come around often. It only made it that much harder, "I thought I could save the prisoners."

Pilar stopped mid-turn. Well, the notice could wait. She grabbed a chair so she could sit more comfortably by Laezila's side. "It's not your fault," Pilar said. She gripped Laezila's hand and ran her fingers through her hair. "You did a good thing, going to save them. Those giants will pay for what they've done."

Laezila 's eyes began to brim with salty water, which blurred her vision and distorted the visage of the vampire by her. But the ease of those fingers through her hair caused the eyes to lower their lids. "He... The giant...." He was a creep. A crazy man. Violent all the same. "I thought I could save -somebody-" she choked.

Pilar would have embraced the drow if she could have done so without aggravating her wounds. She merely contented herself with holding Laezila's hand and stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry, Laezila..." What else could she say? She knew well that a perceived personal failure of such magnitude couldn't be soothed with words.

Laezila would've liked that; an embrace would've soothed at least her tongue from spilling out her perception of personal failure. At least she wasn't babbling on in her native tongue anymore, like she had to Josleen when she was found. Those salty tears, once simply brimming in her eyes, now breached the lip of her eyelids and streamed down either side of her face unperturbed and silently, which slightly discolored her paling makeup that was used to lighten her skin tone and easier disguise her. "I shouldn't have come. I just... I just wanted- to save somebody, to be loved again..." Her words, choked, her thoughts, inward. She gripped Pilar's hand hard. Or at least, she thought it was a hard grip -in reality, it was a limp, weak, and desperate grasp.

Pilar wiped the tears away, making a note that she'd have to re-apply that makeup. Later, though, later. "You are loved, Laezila," she assured her. "You are loved. Hildegarde loves you, Larewen loves you, I love you. There are others, I'm sure, others I don't know of." She held Laezila's hand gently, but firmly. She leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Things will be alright. Somehow..."

Laezila closed her eyes as those tears were wiped away, though the wiping against her flesh only furthered the smear of her makeup, and was a temporary solution; the tears were quick to continue despite the attempts of the other vampire. One hand lifted -specifically, her right hand, of which the arm had no bone protruding from or bent at some unnatural angle- in order to try to be brought palm gently to the cheek of the other woman. "Maybe. But accepted? My people used to adore me. I miss it." She confessed, her words a struggle to speak.

Pilar let Laezila touch her face. She had never been accepted or adored, so she didn't know what it was like. She could imagine it was hard to fall from grace, however. "I can't promise you that you will know that kind of love again... But I know that if you keep trying, people will see your heart, and how good it is, and how you care. You nearly gave your life for those prisoners. I'll make sure people know."

Laezila could nearly scoff at Pilar's words of empty hope and promise; she was in disbelief of them. They meant little -not because of who they originated from, or the words themselves, or even the intent -but simply because she was deadset in her mind that no, nobody would see her heart, or how she cared. But, Piliar was trying so hard to cheer Laezila up, so the ex-matron tried not to let it all show on her face, and even responded with words she didn't mean, "Maybe you're right," they came as her hand retreated from Pilar's face out of sheer fatigue, rather than a disconnect. "Maybe they will."

Josleen setup Kelovath’s bed in one of the partitioned spaces in the healer’s tent for privacy. Laezila would have been afforded the same if she wanted some space to herself. The healer slips out of Kelovath’s cubicle. Her eyes are bloodshot and puffy from lack of sleeping and crying, though at the moment they are dry. She looks rattled again, as she did shortly after she was rescued from Frostmaw herself, only this time it isn’t her brush with death that has her spooked, but his brush with death. He needs sleep now, and she needs food. The first meal she’s eaten since they arrived. But first she stops by Laezila’s bed. She nods a greeting to Pilar then looks down at the vampire. This drow shares some of the blame for Kelovath’s condition, but not most of it. The bard isn’t so unreasonable as to pin this all on Laezila; Balgruuf’s men did this to him, and to Laezila, and her injuries are punishment a thousand times over. The abuse still feels unjust to Josleen, despite her dislike of the ex-matron, and that’s why she’s here asking, “How’s your pain?”

Pilar wasn't sure if Laezila believed her or not. She wouldn't blame her if she didn't. She was just clinging to hope, trying to make Laezila feel better. She looked up at Josleen as she entered and nodded back. "Hello, Miss Josleen." She looked back to Laezila, trying to wipe away the tears that kept coming.

Laezila , however, bore the burden of her own blame for not only Kelovath's condition, but that of the slaves, that of the living giant and mammoth, and, of course, that Josleen's ire would be well-deserved. The girl couldn't lift her eyes to make contact with the healer, but that wasn't out of her physical suffering, as she was speaking to Pilar regardless of the way it made her sinew and muscle along her front slide up and down along the protruding bone of one of her ribs; it was out of shame that she dare not meet the tear-stained stare of the healer. "It should be worse..." A brief look toward Pilar, before her stare lowered again, toward that bone sticking grotesquely out, as she continued to speak to Josleen, "You don't have to look after me, I'm sure another would-" she knew Jos disliked her. Immensely. She knew what she had done to the poor healer.

Josleen purses her lips when Laezila says her pain should be worse. She doesn’t necessarily agree, for once, but isn’t prepared to other olive branches or soothing words either. And so, she says nothing. Instead she follows Laezila’s stare down to the bone protruding from her leg and cringes. “Forgive me for my ignorance in how to treat va--your kind. Would it help or hurt the healing process if your bones were forced back into place?” Offering to help Laezila is the only olive branch the bard has the stomach to give. It’s still a far improvement from where they were this time last year.

Pilar shook her head when Laezila said her pain ought to be worse. "No..." she murmured. She looked at Josleen as the healer spoke. "It can only help. I know we heal fast, but I don't know if our bones will set themselves." She looked at Laezila. "I don't want you to hurt any more... But it's your decision." She pulled up her sleeve. "Either way, you need to feed."

Laezila knew this was going to suck, even with the continued application of the painkiller and the salves; but she also had the distinct impression that setting her bones right would only help. So, with a swallow that momentarily distended the front of her slender throat, she nodded her response in affirmation -confirmation, rather, to go ahead and set the bone. Then the sleeve was being rolled up, and she shook her head, "No, no. Not now," came the hasty reply of the hoarse voice of the ex-matron; frankly, she didn't trust Josleen -not in that she thought the girl malicious, but rather, she didn't think Josleen would be capable of pulling Laezila off of Pilar if she lost control, even as injured as the drow was. "After..." this mess. Now her gaze found the healer, the expression threatening to cry -"I didn't... Eileen told me the mal- Kelovath. And you. And... I didn't -he was just, there, and..." Too soon, bad timing. Why even explain?

Josleen winces when Laezila’s throat distends. Grisly. Laezila nods yes, and Josleen moves swiftly, but is stopped by Laezila’s change of heart. “We may need to restrain you, on second thought,” she says as if guessing Laezila’s motive--so much is communicated nonverbally and the bard often picks up on those cues. Then Laezila starts talking about the paladin and Josleen’s heart pinches. She glances at the edge of the cot and mulls over what she wants to say, compares it against what she should say. The gracious thing would be to forgive, but Josleen isn’t feeling gracious, definitely not until Kelovath walks again--if he walks again. Second to that, the kind thing would be to absolve Laezila of blame, but she doesn’t want to. In Josleen’s eyes the true villain here is the giant who did this, but she won’t offer a counter-argument to Laezila’s guilt either. Instead, the bard holds her punches just a little, but only a little. “Yes, you didn’t know... You have a knack for putting in harm’s way the people you didn’t know I care about the most.” She softens this comment with a powerless shrug. “I can’t help how that makes me feel. I do want your bones to set right, if it’s of any matter. You’ve suffered more than enough.”

Pilar nodded and rolled down her sleeve. "After," she agreed. Her brows furrowed as Laezila began to ramble. She didn't know about what had happened, so there being another injured party was news to her. And she only knew of Kelovath peripherally. But, Laezila was getting upset, and Pilar wouldn't have that. She ran her fingers through Laezila's hair. Josleen's comment earns her a stern glance, but nothing is said on the matter. "What can I do?" Pilar asked. She wanted to do something to help her friend.

Laezila wasn't quite sure why she wanted Josleen's forgiveness so badly; perhaps it was simply the notion of all the horror she had wrought that she needed validation from the person so outspoken against her. Perhaps it was simply because Josleen refused to give it. Either way, when Josleen remarked that comment, the young drow felt her insides churn and wanted to crawl within herself to die. Her head pushed back in incline against that hand that smoothed through her hair, tears still silently escaping the prisons they were once confined to. "Okay," she whispered, "I'm ready."

Josleen feels a weak pang of regret for saying what she did as Laezila lies back, cries, looks for comfort in Pilar. But then she sees Skylei in a coma, and Kelovath as he is now, and the regret dissolves. The bard is a creature of fierce tribal loyalties. Give her your love and loyalty, as Skylei and Kelovath have done, and her commitment in return in unshakeable. Still, she wasn’t lying when she said she wishes for Laezila to mend. It’s part of being good, this ability to juggle resentment with justice, and to have mercy on enemies. “I’ll give you something for the pain. And something to bite down on. Restraints would help, but…” She looks over the vampire’s broken body. “Nowhere to restrain.” She calls for Eileen, for a third set of hands helps too. Also, Eileen has been training Pilar too. Josleen gives Laezila another vial of the milky anesthetic, and a leather strap to bite down on. Once everyone is ready, they start with the feet, then leg, and slowly work their way up. If it gets to be too much for Laezila, they stop.

Pilar cringed slightly with each cry of pain that came from her fellow fledgling. But she did her part dutifully, pushing down her personal feelings. She had a hard time with the sickening noises coming from the site of the injuries as bones were pushed back, but she managed. She kept her eyes on Laezila's. "Look at me," she murmured, "look at me, it's okay..." She tried to dull Laezila's pain with a numbing spell, the same one she had used on Hildegarde. She hoped it was enough.

Laezila, despite the painkiller, despite the anasthetic and how her fangs curled over the front of the leather strap that she bit hard, still felt the horrific jolts of utter pain and agony that shot through her body with every bone that was disgustingly snapped into place. They were met with a muffled scream, with tears, but without any words of protest. It was the rib that would be the most difficult, as it stuck up straight out of her front. But the bright-blue eyed lithe little woman, the drow equivalent to just past the threshold of adulthood, kept her gaze on Pilar's with every encouraging murmur. Still, the agony and suffering was so great. She cried. She didn't even hide it.

Josleen took no pleasure in Laezila’s agony. Once the bones were set in place she withdraws a dark blue gritty paste. “This contains blue iron dust, which passes through the skin to help set bones in the living. I have no idea if it would take effect on dead bones. Worth a try, if you’re willing.” If so, she holds out the salve to Pilar so they can both apply it to Laezila, as part of Pilar’s training. “Apply generously.” She works in silence, her mind drifting to Kelovath often. Will he wake up soon? She wants to be there if so. Her stomach grumbles. Will she have time to get food? Is Kelovath hungry yet? With her thoughts returning to the paladin so often, she can’t bite her tongue for long. “Kelovath can’t feel his legs.” Her head dips inward quickly as if she regrets saying it as soon as it escaped her lips. Dammit, Josleen. She had told herself she wouldn’t do this, that she wouldn’t make things worse for Laezila, but she can’t help herself. The bard is wounded too, in a different way, and lashing out a bit.

Pilar let out a quiet sigh as the last bone is set. She smiled at Laezila and rubbed her cheek. "You did well." Whether that was true or not was up for debate. She followed Josleen's instructions, rubbing the paste into Laezila's skin. She heard Josleen's stomach, and made a note to offer to cook her something. Then she drops the bomb, and she looked up, eyes deeply saddened. "Oh no..." Poor Kelovath!

Laezila, at the very least, didn't attack or flail in response to the bones being set -though whether that was because she was resilient or simply due to her limbs being all broken and mangled was not entirely clear. Perhaps a bit of both. She did, however, cry during the procedure, though once they began to set the blue, gritty paste, the sound was suppressed, and her tears were that of the silent burden of suffering once more. When the palm came to rub her cheek, the other side bruised a violent purple from the giant's wicked backhead, the ex-matron leaned her face into that touch for a moment -that is, until Josleen let that release from her lips. The drow was stunned. Her heart wrenched inside of her body, her mind reeled in on itself, and there was no stemming the tide of self-loathing and bitter failure. "I...I...I-I..." She stammered -but what could she say?

Josleen shakes her head fervently as Laezila reacts. “No. No. I shouldn’t have said that.” She pulls a washed piece of linen (white splotched the color of no-detergent-can-get-that-out-but-it’s-technically-clean blood brown) from a table with basic medical supplies and hands it to Laezila so that she may wipe her tears. “It isn’t your fault. You didn’t push him off that cliff.” She says this last line as much for her own sake as for Laezila’s. It’s easy to chase scapegoats. How cathartic it would be to have someone within grabbing distance to throttle in retribution for what happened to Kelovath, but Josleen wants to be bigger than that. “You didn’t do this,” she reiterates. Then, in a tiny act of kindness, she adds, “I think I saw his foot twitch while he was unconscious. It’s possible the damage isn’t permanent. He may heal yet.” She frowns suddenly as her facade begins to crumble. Tears sting in her eyes as she dwells dangerously long on the subject of Kelovath’s future, which for so long she hoped would also be hers, but now everything is uncertain. “Too soon to tell.” The last word squeaks. She shakes her head again and sobs, “I should go.”

Pilar looked between the women before getting up from her seat and taking Josleen into her arms. She needed comfort, too. It was obvious Kelovath was very dear to her. "Don't give up hope, Miss Josleen," she said. She rubbed the healer's back soothingly. She let her go after a moment's time. "Everything will be okay. Hildegarde was brought back from death. Sir Kelovath will walk again." Magic could literally do anything in this crazy world of theirs.

Laezila shook her head, but neglected to say anything -she couldn't say anything to Josleen. Not for a lack of emotion, or for any hatred, but simply because any words she thought about seemed too little, too ineffective, and most likely because she agreed. This was her fault. It was conveyed in the look she gave Pilar when the latter came to comfort her; it was conveyed in the silent tears, the feeling of worthlessness she felt in her gut. Why? Why was it she was so destined to be a horrible person? She was having trouble handling... any of it.

Josleen accepts Pilar’s hug and comforting words. The logic sows a bud of hope, but Kelovath’s condition is yet too dark to let hope bloom. Perhaps Pilar’s kindness will become prophetic, but for now all Josleen wants is to return to the one she loves. “I hope you’re right. Excuse me,” she says through a sob. She looks to Laezila and regrets once more mentioning Kelovath’s condition. “You didn’t do this to him,” she says one last time before leaving.

Pilar returned to Laezila's side and, now that her bones were set, dared to give her a gentle hug. Outside, a crow landed and squawked. "Excuse me," Pilar said before tending to the crow. It had a message for her. She scrawled a quick response and sent the bird on its way. She returned to the drow's side. "Are you ready to drink from me?" she asked.

Laezila did not want that hug to end, and she clung to Pilar just a little, and weakly. But it ended, and the question came -the answer was no. It was given with a shake of her head. She did not want to drink from Pilar. At all; she had a bad track record of losing control when feeding. And with nobody to help? She'd wait. The drow gave a slight shake of her head.

Pilar slipped her arm back around Laezila. "Okay. If you change your mind, let me know. You need to feed soon, though. It will help you heal." And drinking regularly would help with the crazy, but she didn't mention that part. Instead, she just held her friend.

Laezila nodded lightly against Pilar, but ultimately did not speak; she was tired. Not just physically, after having a lot of bones set to proper places, but emotionally. She didn't know how much she could handle -she just wanted to save somebody. Anybody. Not paralyze Josleen's boyfriend and probably kill all the prisoners she set out to save. Frostmaw -it'd never accept her now. She thought, maybe, she would have a chance if she came back a hero. Now she came back with the blame of more blood on her hands.

Pilar would have done her best to put Laezila's mind at ease, had she known what was bothering her. Alas, Pilar was not a mind-reader. She let silence descend over them, left Laezila to her thoughts.